Game Theory — Tuesday: The Paladin — Oaths, Smites, and Divine Justice cover art

Game Theory — Tuesday: The Paladin — Oaths, Smites, and Divine Justice

Game Theory — Tuesday: The Paladin — Oaths, Smites, and Divine Justice

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 Welcome to Gold Dragon Daily An AI-powered podcast by Gold Dragon Investments, helping you win the game of passive investing. This is Game Theory — The Paladin: Oaths, Smites, and Divine Justice What Is the Paladin? • One of D&D's most iconic classes • Holy warriors, champions of justice, divine instruments of vengeance • Combine martial prowess with divine magic • Versatile and powerful: tanks, healers, damage dealers all in one • Defining feature: the Oath—defines purpose, powers, identity • Break the Oath, lose everything Divine Smite: The Core Mechanic • Simple, brutal, devastatingly effective • Hit with melee weapon attack, expend spell slot to deal extra radiant damage • Damage scales with spell slot level: 1st-level = 2d8, 2nd-level = 3d8, 5th-level = 6d8 • Fighting undead or fiends = extra 1d8 • Critical hits = double all dice including Smite damage • Critical Smite with 5th-level slot can deal over 70 damage in single hit • Declare after you hit, not before—never waste spell slot on miss • Incredibly efficient—guarantee damage when it matters most Paladin Spell List • Not full caster but access to best spells in game • Bless (1st-level): adds 1d4 to attack rolls and saving throws for entire party • Shield of Faith: +2 bonus to AC, turns tanky Paladin into fortress • Find Steed: loyal mount you can summon and resummon (warhorse, griffon, pegasus at higher levels) • Aura of Vitality (3rd-level): heals 2d6 as bonus action for one minute = 20d6 healing total • Revivify (9th level): bring dead allies back to life • One-stop shop for party support Sacred Oaths • Choose at 3rd level, shapes entire character Oath of Devotion (Classic Paladin) • Champion of justice, honor, compassion • Channel Divinity: Sacred Weapon (add Charisma modifier to attack rolls for 1 minute), Turn the Unholy (frighten fiends and undead) • 7th level: Aura of Devotion (you and allies immune to being charmed) • Ultimate protectors, shield allies from harm, smite evil Oath of Vengeance (Justice Over Mercy) • Hunt down evildoers, deliver divine retribution • Channel Divinity: Abjure Enemy (frighten single target, reduce speed to zero), Vow of Enmity (advantage on all attack rolls against single enemy for 1 minute) • Vow of Enmity incredible: advantage on every attack = more crits = massive Smite damage • Built to take down high-priority targets Oath of Conquest (Rule Through Fear) • Crush enemies, break their will to fight • Channel Divinity: Conquering Presence (frighten enemies in 30-foot radius), Guided Strike (+10 to attack roll) • 7th level: Aura of Conquest (frightened enemies' speed reduced to zero, take psychic damage at start of turn) • Battlefield controllers, lock down enemies and make them suffer Oath of Redemption (Second Chances) • Seek to redeem evildoers, avoid violence when possible • Channel Divinity: Emissary of Peace (+5 bonus to Charisma (Persuasion) checks for 10 minutes), Rebuke the Violent (reflect damage back at attacker) • 7th level: Aura of the Guardian (take damage in place of ally within 10 feet) • Ultimate support tanks, absorb damage and protect party Oath of the Watchers (Guard Against Extraplanar Threats) • Fight aberrations, celestials, elementals, fey, fiends • Channel Divinity: Watcher's Will (advantage on Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma saving throws), Abjure the Extraplanar (turn extraplanar creatures) • 7th level: Aura of the Sentinel (add proficiency bonus to initiative rolls for you and allies) • Specialists built to counter specific enemy types Aura of Protection (Game-Changing) • 6th level: add Charisma modifier to all saving throws for you and allies within 10 feet • 18th level: range increases to 30 feet • Paladin with 20 Charisma = +5 bonus to all saves for entire party • Makes entire party more resilient, turns failed saves into successes Paladin Weaknesses • Reliance on multiple ability scores: need Strength or Dexterity (attacks), Constitution (hit points), Charisma (spells and Aura) • Most prioritize Strength and Charisma, leaves Constitution lower • Frontline fighter with d10 hit die needs hit points to survive Multiclassing Strategies • Paladin / Warlock: 2-level dip into Warlock gives Eldritch Blast, short-rest spell slots, Invocations • Hexblade Warlock especially popular: use Charisma for weapon attacks, eliminates need for Strength • Paladin 6 / Hexblade 2 = one of strongest multiclass combinations (Aura of Protection, Extra Attack, Eldritch Blast) • Paladin / Sorcerer: more spell slots to convert into Smites • Paladin 2 / Sorcerer X = full spellcasting progression while keeping Divine Smite • Quicken spell as bonus action, still make weapon attacks on turn—flexible, high-damage build Why Paladin Is One of the Most Powerful Classes • Tank, healer, damage dealer, support character all in one • Strong defenses, reliable damage, protect party • Oath ...
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